Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-08-27

nerve Dreaklng nagglng, now mucn more
mean it is than any scoldingl
When mistress first asked my name
and told her ssJe'nnie, :" II shall call
you Ann" she replied. II call all my
servants Ann"
I'm sure master felt sorry for me, but
be dared say nothing. believe he was
as much afraid of her as was, though
kindly hearted gentleman he was.
would come in to dinner happy looking
and singing, and at table begin to talk
and laugh with his. pretty pets of chill
dren. Then mistress would begin to nag
at me as / laid the dinner. And poor
masters face would fall at once. There
would be no more talking or laughing
with the children after that. He would
hurriedly and silently swallow a few
nouthfuls, then, making some excuse
about work to finish. disappear.
But the room never was busted enough
TO please mistress, the IRE never burned
brightly enough, the things-were never
properly put on the table.
used to dread so lying too late of a
morning that my nights rest was all one
painful, confused dream. would start
may be at s and look at the watch again
and again at 4, and If I did this
dreaded to fall asleep again. would Lie
and read for an hour or two, then go
down to the cold kitchen among the
beetles and struggle for another hour
with wet sticks and damp Goals before
got the fire to light.
Was 1t any wonder / got thin and
worn and so nervous that my mistress
voice suddenly calling 'Ann" felt like n
red hot knife jerked into my heart.
now come to the turning point of
my somewhat sad history, which would
never have been written had / not
thought this simple narrative might move
some mistresses to be little more con-
siderate Of the feelings of their servants.
What was my fate to be. / often
asked that question of myself, lassie
like. Would Jamie be my fateT Though
/ know he liked me. in his letters he
never breathed word of love, but al
ways told, me about auld Grannie and
the eight day clock and about his horses
and kyc.
I had only one friend now in the
world. And he-I feel sure you will
laugh--was the brewers drayman.
When he called for an empty cask or to
deposit q full one In the cellar, he always
had gentle word and smile for me.
He was a jolly looking young man with
handsome face, burly form, and NJ
apron big enough for bathing tent. And
If you'd only seen him pitch the great
casks about--why John was strona
enough to lift COW.
One day mistress had been more tank
ersome than ever, and my eyes were red
with weeping. John noticed IT, and
talked ever SO kindly, and l told him all,
and from that day for months l took to
telling John all, and he always had a
word Of comfort for me. Is it any won
der that my heart warmed TO him?
used TO light him down to the dark
cellar, and it was down there we used to
hold our little corfabs.
But I'll never forget the morning John
asked me to become his wife.
The tallow candle barely dispellc,l the
gloom of that damp, dark cellar, and the
daylight streaming in above us from q
grating, fought with the gloom and was
swallowed up. TE3 INsfs
(Which I've loved you for long
time" said John, Though dursn't
summon up courage to speak my mind.
But have the prettiest little cottage and
garden in the houtskirts as ever ye seed.
And il only wants mistress, JEANNE,
Which tn be your sweet self and nobbut
else. :"
i was glad the cellar was so dark, so
no couldn't see my face; but next mo-
ment was pressed close to Johns big
apron, and it did smell of malt and hops
/ 30. & fsttt F
Yes, it is sweet, wee cottage, and
bonnie do the roses look twining round
the porch In SIMMER, and John is the
dearest and best of husbands. Yes, I'm
happy, and I've almost forgotten that
ever was simple servant lassie.
Good by-thcre is John coming. Cor
don Stables in Home Chimes.